Labor News Update - 05/02/2023

Labor News

Right Now Is the Most Exciting Moment to Join the Labor Movement in Decades
https://jacobin.com/2023/05/labor-movement-may-day-uaw-teamsters-amazon-starbucks-union-organizing

In 2023, Everyone Who Can Go Union Is Doing Just That — While employers illegally suppress blue-collar, retail and service workers, professionals and proto-professionals are unionizing in droves.
https://prospect.org/labor/05-01-2023-starbucks-amazon-teamsters-uaw-union-movement/

Why Are So Many Young People Joining Labor Unions? https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/may-day-young-people-gen-z-labor-unions/

Hollywood braces for writers' strike that could shut down production on most TV shows https://cnn.it/3nlShks

“There are folks that are working in the motion picture industry that are not making enough money to have a sustainable life, to be able to buy a home — which is just insane,” says Hollywood Teamsters leader Lindsay Dougherty of the hard economic realities her members and other Hollywood unions like the Writers Guild of America are being squeezed by. https://deadline.com/2023/05/hollywood-writers-strike-teamsters-lindsay-dougherty-picket-lines-interview-1235351961/

The leaders of three faculty unions voted Sunday to approve contract language finalized Friday with Rutgers University, meaning a tentative agreement is ready for union members to vote on “in the coming days” to formally end a long standoff that led to an unprecedented walkout, according to a union announcement. https://www-nj-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nj.com/education/2023/04/rutgers-unions-reach-tentative-agreement-on-issues-that-led-to-historic-strike.html?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&outputType=amp&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16829836516283&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nj.com%2Feducation%2F2023%2F04%2Frutgers-unions-reach-tentative-agreement-on-issues-that-led-to-historic-strike.html

ICYMI - Workers at DHL Express’ North American superhub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport have taken a vote on whether to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/05/01/dhl-workers-unionize-teamsters.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search

Alcoa union workers have voted to authorize a strike if contract negotiations fall through. The United Steelworkers vote, taken Thursday, doesn’t mean a strike will happen; it allows the bargaining unit to strike if talks don’t improve. The vote was taken in Massena and at an Alcoa plant in Indiana, the only 2 major Alcoa plants left in the U.S. The 2 sides go back into negotiations on May 8. https://www.wwnytv.com/2023/04/28/alcoa-union-workers-authorize-strike-if-talks-fail/

They Want to Change the World. They Would Also Like a Raise. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/nyregion/nonprofits-unions.html

Actors' Equity Association Membership Ratifies New Unified Touring Agreement With The Broadway League https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Actors-Equity-Association-Membership-Ratifies-New-Unified-Touring-Agreement-With-The-Broadway-League-20230428

When the union representing Hollywood writers laid out its list of objectives for contract negotiations with studios this spring, it included familiar language on compensation, which the writers say has either stagnated or dropped amid an explosion of new shows. But far down, the document added a distinctly 2023 twist. Under a section titled “Professional Standards and Protection in the Employment of Writers,” the union wrote that it aimed to “regulate use of material produced using artificial intelligence or similar technologies.” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/business/media/writers-guild-hollywood-ai-chatgpt.html

Union pilots go on strike amid contract negotiations with American Airlines
https://www.wfxrtv.com/homepage-video/union-pilots-go-on-strike-amid-contract-negotiations-with-american-airlines/

US freight rail companies nearly spurred a nationwide railroad strike last fall by refusing to grant paid sick days, but in a surprise move welcomed by workers, those railroads have recently granted paid sick days to almost half their workforce. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/may/01/railroad-workers-union-win-sick-leave

Laborers Local 955 calls out Wildcat Materials union busting https://labortribune.com/laborers-local-955-calls-out-wildcat-materials-union-busting/

The Brookings Institution and Staff Union Reach First Agreement https://www.brookings.edu/news-releases/the-brookings-institution-and-staff-union-reach-first-agreement/

Pro sports unions unite to discuss importance of mental health https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/01/pro-sports-unions-unite-to-discuss-importance-of-mental-health.html

Duke history department faculty releases statement in support of Duke Graduate Students Union https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2023/05/duke-university-history-department-union-statement-duke-graduate-students-union-resolution-advisory-committee

The Oakland teachers’ union has announced it will strike if it does not reach a deal with the school district by May 4. Monday’s announcement comes just a few days after the union voted to approve such a move last week. https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/oakland-teachers-union-to-strike-if-no-deal-is-reached-by-may-4/

Teachers union asks judge to block new Kentucky law barring payroll deductions to pay union dues https://hoptownchronicle.org/teachers-union-asks-judge-to-block-new-kentucky-law-barring-payroll-deductions-to-pay-union-dues/

Machinists Union begings contract negotiations with Spirit AeroSystems https://www.kwch.com/video/2023/05/01/machinists-union-begings-contract-negotiations-with-spirit-aerosystems/

29,000 Machinists Union Members at United Airlines Ratify Industry-Leading Labor Agreements https://www.goiam.org/news/territories/transportation/29000-machinists-union-members-at-united-airlines-ratify-industry-leading-labor-agreements/

Amazon Delivery Owner Says He Was Punished for Supporting Union https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/amazon-delivery-owner-says-he-was-punished-for-supporting-union

From Forward Kentucky: Happy Labor Day! — Workers celebrate today as “International Labor Day” almost everywhere – except in the United States and Canada. https://ky.aflcio.org/news/forward-kentucky-happy-labor-day

Politics, Government & Legislation

'Very homophobic': Teachers' union leader Randi Weingarten says House hearing crossed the line https://news.yahoo.com/very-homophobic-teachers-union-leader-randi-weingarten-says-house-hearing-crossed-the-line-145203434.html

Kentucky: Can money and misinformation buy a nomination for governor? https://forwardky.com/can-money-and-misinformation-buy-a-nomination-for-governor/

AFL-CIOS Liz Shuler calls GOP demands an 'affront to working people' https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/afl-cios-liz-shuler-calls-gop-demands-an-affront-to-working-people/

War on Teachers: Ryan Walters calls Oklahoma teacher unions a 'terrorist organization' in Capitol hearing https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2023/05/01/ryan-walters-oklahoma-legislature-hearing-superintendent-calls-teacher-union-terrorist-organization/70147869007/

Blue-collar city workers union splinters over endorsements in Philadelphia mayoral race https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/philadelphia-district-council-33-endorsements-parker-brown

Mayor Ed Gainey and other elected officials joined nurses and hospital workers in calling for higher pay, shorter hours and a union at UPMC. https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/mayor-ed-gainey-upmc-workers-higher-pay-shorter-hours-union/

The Complicated Case for Gender Equality in Football https://inthesetimes.com/article/wfa-nfl-womens-football-gender-equality

In Recognition of Caregivers, White House Readies to Help Nursing Home Workers https://aflcio.org/2023/5/1/recognition-caregivers-white-house-readies-help-nursing-home-workers

NLRB News & Decisions 

Julie Su Nomination Advances; Show Your Support https://aflcio.org/2023/5/1/service-solidarity-spotlight-julie-su-nomination-advances-show-your-support

Today, the National Labor Relations Board issued a decision in Lion Elastomers LLC II, overruling the prior Board’s decision in General Motors LLC 369 NLRB No. 127 (2020), and returning to the long-established “setting-specific” standards applicable to cases where employees are disciplined or discharged for misconduct that occurs during activity otherwise protected by the National Labor Relations Act.  https://www.nlrb.gov/news-outreach/news-story/board-returns-to-traditional-standards-for-evaluating-employee-misconduct

Fisheries Workers, Cut for Organizing, File Labor Board Charges https://www.labornotes.org/2023/05/fisheries-workers-cut-organizing-file-labor-board-charges

Jobs, Business & Economy 

Wyoming is the deadliest state in the nation for workers, again https://wyofile.com/wyoming-is-the-deadliest-state-in-the-nation-for-workers-again/

AFL-CIO President Shuler on Deaths On The Job: This report should not have to exist' https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/shuler-on-deaths-on-the-job-this-report-should-not-have-to-exist/

Black Workers Are Dying on The Job at a High Rate https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-workers-high-rate-work-related-death/

Attacks on delivery drivers add fears among gig workers https://www.wlky.com/article/attacks-on-delivery-drivers-add-fears-among-gig-workers/43758590

Arizona school districts are building cheap housing developments to attract new teachers https://www.wlky.com/article/arizona-new-approach-attract-teachers-housing/43759627

Feds: Owner of Richie's restaurants didn't submit payroll taxes. Gambled over $1 million http://rssfeeds.cincinnati.com/~/738163283/0/cincinnati-news~Feds-Owner-of-Richies-restaurants-didnt-submit-payroll-taxes-Gambled-over-million/

This Day in Labor History 

Labor History in 2:00 Podcast:

On this day in Labor History the year was 1968. That was the day the administration shut down the Paris University at Naterre. Student protests at the school had begun weeks before around the ideas of a sexual revolution, or the right of young people to sleep together if they chose to without adult interference or moralizing.